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Phishing Filter: Help protect yourself from online scams

Published: 28 October 2006
Phishing Filter helps identify fraudulent Web sites before you visit them and offers dynamic screening to help protect against online data theft

Phishing Filter offers dynamic new technology to help protect you from Web fraud and the risks of personal data theft. Scams known as "phishing scams” typically attempt to lure you into visiting phony Web sites where your personal information or credit card information can be collected for criminal use. This form of identity theft is growing quickly on the Web.

Three ways Phishing Filter helps protect you

Phishing Filter includes several patent-pending technologies designed to warn or block you from potentially harmful Web sites.

1.

A built-in filter in your browser that scans the Web addresses and Web pages you visit for characteristics associated with known online Web fraud or phishing scams, and warns you if sites you visit are suspicious.

2.

An online service to help block you from confirmed scams with up-to-the-hour information about reported phishing Web sites. (Phishing sites often appear and disappear in 24–48 hours, so up-to-the-hour information is critical to protection.)

3.

A built-in way for you to report suspicious sites or scams. With Phishing Filter, you can help provide valuable information on any Web sites you believe are potentially fraudulent phishing attacks. You submit the information to Microsoft and Microsoft evaluates it. If the information is confirmed, the online service adds the information to a database to help protect the community of Internet Explorer and Windows Live toolbar users.

Phishing Filter is available today in Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), and in the upcoming Windows Vista release.

It is also available in the new Windows Live Toolbar for users of Internet Explorer 6 and above.

You must be running Windows XP SP2 or later to use Phishing Filter.

How to get Phishing Filter

There are two ways to get Phishing Filter:

•

Upgrade your browser to Internet Explorer 7 with Phishing Filter built-in. (Internet Explorer 7 will also be part of the upcoming Windows Vista release.)

•

Install the new Windows Live Toolbar and the Windows Live OneCare advisor add-in with Phishing Filter built-in.

How Phishing Filter works in Internet Explorer 7

After you download and install Internet Explorer 7, you can turn on the Phishing Filter.

Turn on the Phishing Filter.

If you don’t do this when you install Internet Explorer 7, you can also turn on Phishing Filter at any time. On the Internet Explorer 7 Tools menu, click Phishing Filter.

You can turn on Phishing Filter at any time.

Phishing Filter recognizes two types of Web sites:

•

Suspected phishing Web sites.

•

Known phishing Web sites.

If you visit a suspected phishing site when you surf the Web, Phishing Filter displays a yellow warning, as shown here:

suspected phishing website

If you attempt to visit a known phishing site, Phishing Filter blocks you from visiting the site and displays a red warning page, as shown below. You are then prevented from entering any information into that site.

known phishing website

How Phishing Filter works in Windows Live Toolbar

After you download and install the new Windows Live Toolbar, install the OneCare Advisor button, which includes the Phishing Filter.

If you visit a suspected phishing site while surfing the Web, Phishing Filter displays a yellow warning, as shown below.

Windows Live OneCare Advisor suspected phishing website

If you attempt to visit a known phishing site, Phishing filter displays a red warning and makes the Web site unavailable. You are blocked from entering any information into any Web form on that site.

Windows Live OneCare Advisor known phishing website


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Related Links
•Get Phishing Filter today: Install Internet Explorer 7
•Get Phishing Filter today: Install Windows Live Toolbar
•What is social engineering?
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